Steinmeier meets new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington

As the economic crisis takes a toll on jobs, politicians are warning about the risk of rising protectionism. US president Barack Obama urged Congress yesterday NOT to include in its economic stimulus package a so-called "Buy American" clause that could trigger a trade war. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his own concerns after meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. He said "new protectionist tendencies worldwide" would do the global economy no good.